ADAM LANE SMITH | How Men and Women Cause Each Other Pain

In this week’s Ask Me Anything episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle a variety of topics, including building wealth, establishing healthy boundaries, and balancing hobbies with responsibilities. They explore how to lead effectively, the tiers of accountability, and the importance of fostering integrity in relationships and organizations.  With personal insights, practical strategies, and engaging humor, Ryan and Kipp deliver actionable advice for men striving to improve their personal and professional lives.  SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Headlines and Updates 13:52 Expanding Wealth and Financial Planning 24:12 Boundaries vs. Walls in Relationships 29:39 Masculine Projects and Fulfillment 34:28 Leading Leaders: Navigating Operational Challenges 44:51 Accountability: Supporting Others with Integrity 1:00:37 Becoming the Best Dad Possible 1:07:35 Strengthening Spiritual Practices Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

29 Jan 1h 15min

“Men aren’t emotional.” “Men are more logical than their female counterparts.” “Men don’t cry.” These are all things you’ve heard whether they’ve been directed at you or not. But the reality paints a different story. Men are emotional. But that’s not to say that we ought to let ourselves be led by our emotions alone. Dr. Ethan Kross understands this well as a man who researches how we, as humans, both feel and react to those feelings. Today, we talk about how to deal with intrusive thoughts, how to address the dark thoughts we often experience, what it actually means to “control” your emotions, how to become more emotionally fit, and how you can regulate your emotions – even the “negative” ones – so they don’t regulate you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - The Unwritten Rule About Men and Emotions 01:57 - Emotional Strength: A Navy SEAL's Perspective 03:32 - Can We Control Our Emotions? 06:57 - Dark Thoughts and Emotional Awareness 08:15 - Myths About Managing Emotions 13:43 - Emotions: Tools for Resilience and Growth 15:55 - The Link Between Love, Hate, and Emotional Investment 20:41 - The Art of Emotion Regulation 26:07 - Emotional Fitness: A Multi-Tool Approach 30:14 - The Power of Mental Time Travel 41:17 - Public Speaking and Emotional Influence 49:39 - Over-Regulation and Exhaustion 52:26 - Leveraging Environmental Regulators 55:10 - The Value of Negative Emotions 59:13 - The Power of Finding Common Ground 01:00:38 - Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Ethan Kross Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

28 Jan 1h 9min

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler dives into the powerful concept of the stories men tell themselves and how these narratives shape their identity, success, and outlook on life. Ryan challenges listeners to rewrite negative scripts, adopt a victor mindset, and use their inner dialogue to build resilience and purpose. He emphasizes the importance of self-talk, taking responsibility, and reframing experiences as opportunities for growth. This inspiring episode will leave you reflecting on your own story and the impact it has on who you are and who you’re becoming. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 02:30 The impact of stories on identity 04:50 Reframing negative narratives 09:10 Self-talk and identity shaping 15:50 Victim vs. victor mindset 22:25 Lessons from the words we use 31:50 Changing old stories 36:25 Closing thoughts Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

24 Jan 38min

In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, Ryan Michler and Kipp Sorensen tackle thought-provoking topics like entrepreneurial mindset, rediscovering drive after setbacks, and the dynamics of relationships. They answer listener questions on building self-discipline, explaining love to kids, and navigating life’s challenges with resilience. Ryan and Kipp also share insights on avoiding victimhood and embracing personal responsibility, alongside their thoughts on leadership, success, and living intentionally. Packed with practical advice and inspiring conversations, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to level up in life and relationships. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 04:02 You Are Your Own Boss 17:10 Non-Commercialized Gifts for Your Wife 20:16 Go-To Songs to Get Fired Up 24:40 Explaining Love to Preteens 31:22 Rediscovering Drive After Setbacks 42:32 Career, Status, and Relationships 51:16 Talking to Kids About Their Struggles 59:30 The Best Advice from Mentors 1:04:08 New Hunting Tactics Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

22 Jan 1h 12min

Stories are what make the world go ‘round. From selling a product, service, or podcast like this one, to dating, raising kids, and building friendships, the stories you tell yourself and others are going to either unlock doors and open opportunities…or close the doors before you even had to chance to see them there. Donald Miller is an expert storyteller and an expert and helping other people articulate and share theirs. Today, we talk about why humans are so interested in storytelling, what foundational elements make a good story, the importance of a “story loop,” to get other to buy-in to what you’re sharing by making them part of the story. Whether you’re a marketing professional or just want to help your son deal with his first bully at school, this podcast is for you. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction 00:22 - Hobbies and Interests 00:53 - Fly Fishing Buddies 01:15 - Nashville and Culture 02:26 - Why Move to Nashville? 03:06 - Are People Really that Kind? 03:23 - Population Growth in Nashville 04:27 - Concerns about Assimilation 05:51 - Portland Used to be a Great City 07:44 - Austin is a Great City, too 08:40 - The Power of Stories 09:34 - Why are Stories so Powerful? 10:30 - Stories as an Attention Device 11:06 - Stories in the Bible 12:12 - Truth and Stories 12:17 - Stories Equip Us for Threats 13:03 - Stories Shape Identity 14:19 - What Sort of Stories Work? 14:28 - Braveheart and the Writer 15:39 - Cultures Shaped by Stories 16:52 - Personal Stories in Church 18:10 - Opening Story Loops 18:51 - Rom-Com Story Loops 20:11 - How to Open Story Loops 20:38 - Leadership and Story 23:05 - Casting a Vision 24:55 - Catastrophic Failure 25:23 - What is Your Family Against? 26:17 - A Structure for Family Life 27:21 - What is Your Family For? 28:11 - The Vibe of Your Family 28:50 - Sound Bites and Repetition 30:02 - Shaping Identity 31:18 - Context is Key 32:15 - Truth with a Capital "T" 33:09 - Hitler and Churchill 33:59 - Hitler's Narrative 35:18 - Territorial Sovereignty 36:19 - Xi Jinping's Narrative 37:54 - Moral Responsibility 38:50 - Don's Core Belief 40:17 - Israel and Palestine 41:20 - Missing Christ in the Israeli-Palestinian Narrative 41:54 - What Makes a Compelling Story? 42:18 - Compelling Story Elements 44:23 - External and Internal Journeys 45:04 - External, Internal, and Philosophical Conflict 48:04 - The Hero is Transformed 49:23 - Affirmation from Mentors 51:15 - The Market in Men 51:55 - John Eldridge 52:32 - Answering the Internal Struggle 52:59 - Separation from God 54:57 - God's Love is Immovable 55:41 - Human Love Needs Human Meriting 56:46 - Nancy Duarte 56:51 - Story of Bullying 58:50 - Bullies and Evil 59:17 - StoryBrandAI 01:00:59 - Telling Stories About Core Values 01:02:02 - The Power of AI in Storytelling 01:02:53 - Jocko Willink and Tough Narratives 01:03:24 - Conclusion and Where to Connect Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

21 Jan 1h 10min

In this episode of Friday Field Notes, Ryan Michler delves into the tragic events of the LA fires to uncover critical lessons about preparedness, responsibility, and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, accountability in governance, and practical approaches to safeguarding our families and communities. Drawing from real-world examples and personal reflections, Ryan challenges listeners to think critically about their own preparedness and role in protecting their loved ones. Tune in to discover five powerful lessons learned from this devastating event and how they can inspire you to become a better protector, provider, and presider in your own life. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Scope of the LA fires 05:34 The importance of self-reliance 08:50 The government's ineptitude 15:09 Rejecting ineffective policies 20:06 Addressing crime and punishment 24:06 Balancing human needs with nature 27:26 Supporting disaster relief efforts Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

17 Jan 30min

In this week’s episode of Ask Me Anything, Ryan Michler takes on an engaging solo session to address viewers’ thought-provoking questions. Covering topics like combating complacency, building confidence, improving communication, overcoming insomnia, escaping the comparison trap, and fostering a positive relationship with finances, Ryan delivers actionable advice and personal experiences. Packed with practical wisdom, this AMA is a must-listen for anyone seeking to enhance their mindset, leadership, and overall growth as a man.  SHOW HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 - Introduction 02:31 - Combating complacency 06:18 - Building confidence and resilience 16:46 - Communication skills and reading strategies 23:54 - Overcoming insomnia 29:46 - Breaking free from complacency 31:13 - Escaping the comparison trap 39:08 - Knowing when to pivot vs. quitting 46:42 - Coaching challenges with children 54:51 - Developing the right financial mindset Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

15 Jan 1h 7min

With the brand-new year, I figured it would be a good idea to talk with an expert on the topic of health and fitness. For almost 10 years, I’ve suggested that if a man is just getting on (or back on) the path of self-development, the gym is the best place to start. There are a lot of reason for this but I think my guest, Brandon Mancine would agree. Today, Brandon and I talk about three types of fitness goals every man should implement (all three have merit), why a broken past does not define you, weight-lifting benchmarks all men should hit (or be working towards), the importance of intelligent lifting – especially as we get older, getting over “ego lifting,” and why now is the perfect time to get strong. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Bodybuilding vs. Service 02:16 Defending Bodybuilders 02:57 Early perceptions of bodybuilders 04:57 Coaching 05:22 Ideal Physique 05:49 Social Media Perceptions 07:14 Personal Experience with CrossFit 07:43 Strength is Key 08:50 Speaking in Layman’s Terms 10:06 Compound Movements 10:32 Strength Bias 11:31 Helping Clients Be Better Athletes 12:08 Questioning Others in the Gym 12:46 Crossfit Champions 13:42 Benchmarks 15:27 What is Strength? 16:37 Strength Training in the Physical Realm 17:27 What is the Core? 18:04 Butt Wink 18:47 Two Types of Clients 19:32 The Importance of Technique 20:45 Missing a PR 22:36 What is a PR? 23:03 Best Mover 24:43 Moving with Intention 24:55 Getting Over Ego 25:28 Importance of the Coach 26:32 Long Term Success 26:55 Principles of Fitness and Finances 27:50 Financial Planning During Market Crash 28:56 Applying These Principles to Fitness 29:46 Injuries and Training 30:59 Injuries as a Reason to Continue 31:41 Brandon's Accident 34:08 Current Squat 35:39 TRT Misconceptions 36:18 Focus of Training 36:33 Three Types of Goals 37:09 Lifestyle and Legacy Goal 38:07 Empowering Goal 38:23 Trap Bar Deadlift 39:19 Single Leg Deadlifts 40:14 "What kind of old person do you want to be?" 41:19 Keeping up with Kids 42:12 Impact of Strength Training on Athletes 43:10 Confidence and Ego 43:59 Sitting in the Parking Lot 45:16 Gym Community 46:16 Fear of Going to the Gym 47:42 Ryan's First Experience in CrossFit 48:39 Lifestyle Evolution vs. Lifestyle Change 50:55 Brandon Mancine's Mother's Story 53:43 Doctors 54:15 Realizing Potential 54:49 Connect with Brandon Mancine 55:52 Conclusion Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

14 Jan 1h 3min